Life After Cancer: Continuing To Be a Caregiver

Being a caregiver for a cancer survivor can be complex. Cancer survivors can still have physical and emotional issues after treatment ends. The types of issues may change. And you may have your own struggles with giving care while taking care of yourself.

Understanding cancer survivorship

After your loved one finishes treatment and is in remission from cancer, he or she still has challenges. Some side effects of treatment can last for a while. Some may happen weeks or months after treatment. Your family member or friend may have job and money worries. And it can be hard to go back to a normal life after cancer. It often takes longer than expected. He or she will likely be concerned about the risk for long-lasting side effects. And it’s common to worry about the cancer coming back. Caregivers also share in the survival experience.

Cancer treatment after-effects

The cancer is gone. But that doesn’t mean that your loved one feels fine now. Cancer and its treatments are very hard on the body. Cancer survivors often have after-effects that can last for months or years. Organs may have been removed or damaged. Their body may not work as it did before. The medicines used can cause effects long after a person stops taking them. After cancer, your family member or friend may have issues such as:

Tiredness (fatigue)

Pain

Nerve damage (neuropathy)

Swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphedema)

Mouth problems

Trouble sleeping

Weight gain or loss

Changes in sexual health and fertility

Thinking (cognitive) changes

Depression or anxiety

Talk with your loved one’s healthcare team. You can find out what kinds of treatment after-effects to expect. Ask the healthcare team:

What can be done to help prevent problems

How you can help ease symptoms

What kinds of problems to keep watch for

When to call the healthcare team

What is a cancer survivorship care plan (SCP)?

A survivorship care plan is a document to help a person move forward after cancer treatment. Some medical groups advise that healthcare providers should put together an SCP for their cancer patients. The care plan is a personal record of cancer treatment history. And it has information to help after cancer treatment. Ask the healthcare team if they can create an SCP for your loved one.

Ways you can help now

Your loved one’s needs may change over time. But you may still find that your family member or friend needs different kinds of support.

You can give support in some of these ways:

Cleaning the house and doing laundry

Doing grocery shopping and other errands

Making meals

Caring for pets

Helping with bathing, dressing, and using the toilet

Filling prescriptions and keeping track of medicines

Driving

Arranging medical appointments

Going along to medical appointments

Keeping in contact with the healthcare team in case of problems

Filing and following up on health insurance claims and medical bills

Helping him or her make healthcare decisions

Communicating with his or her workplace

For physical health, you can help your loved one:

Walk or do physical therapy daily

Keep track of symptoms

Note any new or worse symptoms

Call the healthcare team if needed

For emotional health, you can help your loved one:

Keep watch for signs of depression and anxiety

Be in touch with family and friends

Find online or local support groups

Find a counselor or therapist

Contact his or her spiritual advisor

Financial concerns for you

Caregivers sometimes need to take unpaid time off work. Some even need to quit their job. They often spend their own money on care expenses. These issues can cause money problems. Talk with your employer about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and employee assistance programs. Ask the hospital and healthcare team for information about financial help.

Taking care of yourself

Helping someone recover from cancer is a stressful task. You may worry about your loved one’s physical and mental health. You may worry about money issues. You may feel powerless to help in some ways. And you may be unsure what your role is now. These kinds of worries cause stress. They can lead to depression and anxiety. To keep yourself healthy, make sure to:

Eat a healthy diet.

Get regular physical activity.

Protect yourself from the sun.

Keep your social life active.

Get a flu shot every year.

Don’t smoke.

Limit alcohol.

Get enough sleep.

Get regular checkups and screening tests.

Write in a journal to help express your feelings about what you've been going through.

Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help with any of these.